Florida: SeaWorld Orlando Trip

SeaWorld is always a hit with the five-year-old crowd, and today's adventure was no exception. This is the first time we have been to the Orlando park (check out our posts from the summer of 2013 on the San Diego SeaWorld), 

The Turtle Trek exhibit was a lot of fun. It included a 3D movie about turtles, helping kids to learn the journey turtles take from egg to ocean back to lay eggs of their own. Viewers were encouraged to "be an everyday hero," doing things that help turtles like picking up litter on the beach.

Bria loved it (even though it was a bit overwhelming at times), and kept reaching out to try to touch the 3D images. It did feel like they were right there next to you!

Of course it wasn't all on screen - there were also live turtles! And manatees, which are in the same exhibit.

SeaWorld is a great place to get up and close and personal to learn about sea life, with interactive exhibits, rides, and other fun ways to draw the kids in. Nothing helps you learn about animals quite like getting face-to-face with them and watching them interact with the environment.

Bria enjoyed the shark exhibit's lessons about the anatomy of sharks, followed by a fun trip through a tunnel with sharks swimming overhead.

Note that the shark exhibit may be a bit scary for younger viewers. There is a dark, shadowy feel about things, and they play ominous music as you move through to the tunnel.

After the shark tunnel, we got to feed some small sharks in an outdoor tank. Bria was telling people all day, "Did you know sharks eat shrimp?" (But she wasn't very excited to have to TOUCH it...)

Another place to be aware of younger viewers is the Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin ride. The signs for the ride say it is for all ages, but once inside the line splits. Children must be 42 inches tall to go on the "wild" side of the ride. Bria was the only person in our group of eight people who was singled out to be too small. After standing on line for 40 minutes, we were all glad she was able to roll with that easily!

The ride includes several stages, where the story of Puck, a young penguin, is told through video in several different styles - small screens and large.

There was not a lot of difference between the two sides - basically the "mild" side just moves around less in the car. Check out this promo video from SeaWorld to see the ride in action.

We spun (gently) around in cars, learned more of Puck's story, and then the real-live penguins were dramatically revealed. Everyone loved it!

The announcements that play while you are standing in line for this ride warn that you should be dry before going in, because the air will be cold. They are definitely not kidding. Going from the hot Florida sun to the icy penguin enclosure is pretty shocking, and bringing a sweatshirt along would not be a terrible idea.

If you don't love the Dolphin Nursery, you should probably check your pulse. Watching the sweet juvenile dolphins swim around, splash and play (often with the people around their tank) is enough to melt the grumpiest of visitors. We went back to the nursery three or four times during the day, settling in under one of the umbrellas to see what the babies were up to. It's a great place for a quiet time out from the chaos of the park.

If you love dolphins, be sure to catch the Blue Horizons show! We enjoyed it so much, it had to have its own post.

When you are ready to splash around a bit, head over to the manta ray tank. You can hand feed the rays, pet them, and will likely get more than a little wet!

For inexpensive souvenir ideas, look for the collectible pennies machines spread throughout the park. They come in a wide variety of designs, and kids get the opportunity to turn the crank and "make" their own souvenir. The gift shops sell a passport-style book with sleeves to keep the coins in, which we'll use to keep coins from other spots, too. 

To wrap up, here are a few overall tips for a trip to SeaWorld Orlando.

1. It's HOT. I can't believe how many people we saw in jeans and long-sleeve shirts. Dress in layers, bring cool things to wear, and remember hats and sunscreen.

2. We like to do the all-day dining plan, because it takes the pressure off. The kids can stop and eat whenever they need to, and we don't have to worry about budgeting or a thousand junk options. The locations that accept the meal plan offer fresh fruit and veggies options that make good snacks between meals, and everyone can eat as much as they care to by going back through the line multiple times. Plus cold drinks are included (see #1)!

3. If your children are not good at standing in lines or waiting, consider the Quick Queue Unlimited pass. For $19 (currently), you get to short cut the lines and save yourself from meltdowns. We've never tried it, but it could be a good option for those eager to do a lot of rides. (We skipped the Manta roller coaster due to a 40 minute wait today.)

4. Annual passes are cheaper than you might think! Even if you already have tickets, they will give you a credit toward an annual pass, and it is often cheaper than two visits. Stop by a ticket kiosk before you leave for details, or ask about it at entry.

5. Be patient! Wander over to our post on visiting the zoo - the same advice applies. Go at your child's pace, and be prepared to skip the things that aren't going over well today. Everyone will have far more fun that way.